Originally Posted by
Eastbay1K
Meanwhile, methinks the OP is interested in the clase basura comparison, which between AS/AA/DL/UA/WN, are substantially similar, except some have a plug for your electrical devices, some have seatback screens and with limited exception (i.e., what you can pay extra for onboard), will have a substantially similar experience. If you bring your own IFE, you'll have an even more substantially similar experience. It is mostly how much the FA barks or doesn't bark at you, how close the lav is and how many there are, and if the airline stocks your favo(u)rite flavo(u)rs of beverages, and how frequently, if ever, you'll receive them.
I like Eastbay's post and have something to add.
I didn't start flying AS much until 6 or 7 years ago, soon after they took over Virgin's routes. My opinion of their service is that it had very good value and reliability. Wife and I are in our mid 70's and have been flying everybody forever. We only want to get seats in F and reliable carriers who will answer our phone calls when things are tense (sounds demanding?). We're GS for UA and have been Diamond on DL, although we have adjusted to lifetime gold on DL, mainly because DL doesn't have great options for us out of the Bay Area. I have lifetime Airpass, which I seldom use, because AA doesn't go non-stop to where we want to be. Our main route is SFO-JFK on their F class planes, which we like, mainly because of the Chelsea lounge in JFK.
We both were 1K on UA for years, because we used UA so much out of SFO. Finally, UA presented a Pass Plus product for $50K and it tempted us to GS, which have made the past 4 yrs. But UA's prices, as DL's, are just not deserving of our money compared to AS routes that we fly. We are in Hawaii almost monthly and no more fly UA out of SFO. We're closer to SJC (10 minutes away) and go round trip for around $2,000, SJC-HNL, for 2, with little planning and effort. Ok. They're 737's. But UA is flying their 5 daily non-stops, RT, for $3,600 - $4,500 RT, mainly in 737's, same as AS's planes. So we haven't flown UA out of the Bay Area to Hawaii in over a decade. Lying flat on the 4.5 hr return in the afternoon HNL-SFO doesn't merit a near 100$ premium. F seats on AS are just fine.
I have one beef, which is that I wish AS would have live TV on my routes (SFO-JFK, SFO-ORD) like AA and UA do. We'd be glad to pay for it. We're in the middle of presidential campaign news, and we have contributed to a lot of senate candidates throughout the US. So, we're always switching back and forth from CNN to Fox and others to hear the latest gaffes from candidates.
Sum up: AS is a very fine carrier whose service I have very much come to like. We think the value and service are tops. Disclosure: We have accumulated a significant position in AKL (NYSE) and have not regretted it. Mr Minicucci has answered my comments/queries on 2 different occasions, very appropriately. We plan to keep flying AS consistently. We don't fly AS for the food, however, but that is true of most carriers.